THE PIGEON BOOK 39 



protrusion from the follicle, which gradually, as it 

 lengthens, unfurls the webbing, and a new, tight, strong 

 feather takes the place of the old one. Meanwhile the 

 next feather to it has been thrown, when the first was at 

 half its length, the period dividing the fall of the two 

 feathers being about a month. The subsequent flight 

 feathers or primaries fall in succession, according to 

 conditions of breeding and health of the subject. 



After the fifth or sixth flight has been thrown the 

 moult extends to the humerus and the shoulder feathers. 

 About the time when the sixth or seventh flight has fallen 

 the moult becomes general. 



Pigeons moult more freely when they are sitting than 

 when they are feeding young. 



The food the young require and the drain of feeding 

 will retard the moult. In fact, whilst feeding young they 

 will often hold the next feather to moult until the young 

 are old enough to be taken away, but directly the 

 youngster is removed the next feather is thrown. 



Sometimes, through a check in the early part of the 

 year, the moult is retarded, and I have known cases of 

 two or three flights thrown at once, as well as the whole 

 of the tail. Still, this need give no cause for alarm so 

 long as the birds are keeping strong and well, as they 

 will renew the growing feathers without difficulty. 



Sometimes when a new feather is grown it will be 

 shrivelled in comparison to its fellows. This may arise 

 from various causes — an injury to the follicle, want of 

 sap at the time of its growth, or general debility. It is 

 a mistake to pull out such a feather while the moult is 

 still in progress, for the reason that a worse one will 

 generally grow in its stead. I have, however, removed 

 such partially-deformed feathers when the moult has 

 been thoroughly completed, and a perfect feather has 



